Creative insiders reveal the design items they covet deeply.
Striking that sweet spot between form and function, good design is a joy to live with and use. Here, industry insiders tell about the pieces they rate. Sarah Pickette
Sometimes it’s a piece that has sentimental value. Or an object that’s so perfectly formed you can’t help but run your hand over it every time you pass by. The definition of ‘good design’ varies from one person to the next, but most would agree that it incorporates functionality, beauty and durability. “We all want our home to look beautiful, but good design goes further than that,” says Adam Liaw, TV chef and author. “When an item is a pleasure to use, it removes one layer of stress and frustration from your life. Great design is about living life with efficiency, practicality and balance.”
“If I had to nominate one superbly designed item in my home, I’d pick the Hans Wegner ‘Flag Halyard’ chair, designed in the 1950s. The idea came to Wegner as he was digging a ‘sand chair’ to sit in at the beach. It’s handwoven with 240m of flagline cord and is a thing of beauty.” Miriam Fanning, interior designer, Mim Design
“One of the best investments I’ve made is a set of nesting side tables by Augousti. They are so versatile that I have been able to reconfigure them many times over the years as my furniture arrangements have changed. They have an exquisite shagreen top and brass accents that are reminiscent of Art Deco architectural details. They look like miniature skyscrapers.” Brendan Wong, interior designer, Brendan Wong Design
“I’d always wanted a George Nelson ‘Bubble’ light, so when I spied one marked down to $50 at Spence & Lyda, I nabbed it! The light was ‘damaged’ because one of the steel ribs was detached from the inner ring. It took a bit of fiddling with a pair of long-nose pliers, but I popped the rib back in and now I have the light I love.” Scott Weston, architect, Scott Weston Architecture & Design “I love pieces with a sculptural feel; it’s all about silhouette for me. The form of the Oluce ‘Atollo’ lamp is exquisite, but then you turn it on and the double globes spread the light beautifully. It sits next to my favourite spot on the sofa so I get to enjoy it every night.” Chelsea Hing, interior designer, Chelsea Hing Interior Design “I’ve lived in three homes in the past 10 years and the one item that’s always moved with me is my ‘Stella’ table. It was designed in 2006 by my sister Wilhelmina. We were on a plane from Germany and she started talking about a loop-based meals table she wanted to design. She drew the base on a piece of paper and then worked with our guys at the factory to get it right. I love this table for its soft, feminine form and versatility. It really makes me happy.” Fleur Sibbel, managing director, Zuster “I’ve lost and damaged a lot of gardening implements over the years, but I always keep an eye on my Burgon & Ball tools. They’re sturdy, beautiful and a pleasure to use.” Melissa Wilson, landscape architect, Melissa Wilson Landscape Architects “I invested in some hand-thrown dinnerware by Collis Studio in
New Zealand. The pieces are terracotta with a wonderful green glaze. I worked closely with owners Peter and Julie to get the clay texture right and to perfect the glaze. I will definitely be adding to the collection soon.” Sean Connolly, chef & restaurateur
“I’m couldn’ta bit surviveof a ‘Madame without Washalot’my Miele and washing machinetheir purchaseand dryer. pricesI rememberwere a little thinking excessive, that but when I tally up the cost per wash, they are super economical.” Fleur Sibbel “I still use my trusty old Sunbeam ‘Oskar’ food processor, which I’ve had since the 1980s. It just keeps going and going. Any kitchen implement with the kind of resilience my ‘Oskar’ has should not be undervalued!” Maggie Beer, cook & author “I live on a steep corner block with a lot of lawn and a huge nature strip. Recently I did away with my old mower and purchased a self-propelled Honda mower with a larger cutting capacity and much lighter catcher – and it starts first time, every time! The design improvements have halved the time it takes me to mow. Definitely money well spent.” Matt Leacy, landscape designer, Landart Landscapes “My mother-in-law gave me a handcrafted Aritsugu knife. It’s a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Aritsugu blacksmiths have a reputation for being the best in the world; their knowledge has been passed down over hundreds of years. The handle is ergonomic, with a perfectly balanced weight, and the steel in the blade distinguishes it from all my other knives.” Erica Stewart, CEO, Hardtofind “The market is flooded with low-cost, mass-produced furniture designed for people with temporary habits, but good design never goes out of style. I still have a pair of Parker wall units from the 1980s, which I adore. They’re as beautiful today as they were when I bought them.” Patrizia Torelli, CEO, Australian Furniture Association “My Asko ‘Volcano’ wok burner is probably the best piece of design in my kitchen. When everyone else thought the number-one problem with stir-frying at home was burners being too small or not having enough power, Asko realised that the real difficulty was in controlling the rate at which liquids evaporate and focused its R&D on fixing that. The ‘Volcano’ has made my wok cooking better than it’s ever been.” Adam Liaw